The former Ipswich youngster, 19, chose Sunderland instead of Liverpool in 2010, because he thought he would get more first-team football.

But O’Neill is only now ready to play him.

Ahead of Sunday's trip to Fulham, the Sunderland boss said: “The fee the football club paid put him under pressure to perform. He has to put that to the side and get on with his game.

“He is very young but there was pressure on him to go and become an instant success. But he’s got loads of time.

“He has the potential to be a really decent player and is working exceptionally well with Steve Guppy every single morning. He wants to do it, he has a strong appetite, and he is realising this is a tough old business.

“A few weeks ago, when Sheffield Wednesday asked about him, and a few others, I would have considered it because it would have great and particularly with the Under-21 games when his confidence is decent.

“But I have not had the where-with-all, so I hope he will come through here. I am hoping he can be the player he wants to be.

“We have had a number of conversations -, not recently, other than I said I thought he was doing very well in training to give him encouragement - and he is still very young but he is very strong in fact sometimes I don’t think he realises how strong he is.

"He needs to add aspects to his game he maybe thought were there, but might have deserted him.”

O’Neill will discover the focus is on Sunderland on Sunday.

The Black Cats have just nine points from 10 league matches and O’Neill said: “We need to win some games. It is all very well that we played well at Everton but eventually you have to win games.

“We will go to Fulham in really decent spirits. Fulham are going very well but I don’t think there is added pressure. We want to try to win.

"After that we have played 11, seven away, and that in-balance will straighten itself up but it would be nice to be back at the Stadium of Light and then we need to win some games.

“Even with our run at the moment we are not that far removed from clubs above us but it is all ifs buts and maybes. We need some points on the board.”